In anticipation, I've been watching the dvd with Galina Ulanova (1940) dancing most of the Act II White Swan duet. Clement Crisp once called Galina Ulanova "A Miracle." I guess we can leave it at that.

A tough act to follow, but Ekaterina Kondaurova, Oxana Skorik and Anastasia Kolegova will take to the stage starting next Tuesday.

Galina Ulanova was sublime. Based on what I saw her do last March, Oxana Skorik has the ability to inhabit some of the same waters. Ekaterina Kondaurova has shown that she is a statuesque goddess and there may be even more to hope for. The only time that I saw Anastasia Kolegova she was absolutely lovely as the Lilac Fairy ("Sleeping Beauty").

Those east coast girls are hipI really dig the styles they wear[St. Petersburg Now, the Mariinsky Always]

I been all around this great big worldAnd I seen all kinds of girls....

I wish they all could be californiaI wish they all could be californiaI wish they all could be california girls

Buddy, I'm so happy that you are on a roll. Nothing like the Mariinsky to bring the sunshine. "I wish that I could be in California" ... to see the girls and guys in Swan Lake (or in DC for Cinderella). I'm going to miss everything as I'm working overseas, so am counting on our intrepid reporters.

I expressed this idea quite awhile ago at another topic. My great enjoyment of Swan Lake, and I'm sure that of many other viewers, has very much centered around the famous Odette, White Swan, Act II duet. For me this is where the Enchantment is created. It has been for me one of the greatest artistic highs that I've ever experienced. If the rest of the ballet that follows can maintain this Enchantment, then I'm in 'heaven.'

The handling of the following Odile character can be critical. Svetlana Zakharova after her move to the Bolshoi from the Mariinsky made a comparison between the perception of the Odile character by the two companies. I do remember her stating that the general Mariinsky approach was a subtle interpretation. Odile also had to 'enchant.' As much as I can understand the desire to see a contrast in identity and performance styles done by the same artist, it is still the Aura of the White Swan duet that I so treasure and hope to feel kept afloat for as much of the entire ballet as possible. If the Odile character is handled with sensitivity and the beauty of her dance is highlighted, then the continuity that I so hope for is greatly aided. When Odette returns in Act IV, the 'spell' is much easier to maintain.

This is totally an aesthetic response on my part, but it is one that is very dear to me. I greatly look forward to seeing each of the lead ladies, Ekaterina Kondaurova, Oxana Skorik and Anastasia Kolegova, all extremely beautiful in their enchanting gracefulness, perform their artistic magnificence next week.

There's a very nicely put statement of recognition for the corps de ballet women by Yuri Fateev. In a sense he includes the 'lead ballerina,' perhaps to be seen as a distillation of their collective beauty, as one of their number.

"We have 32 swans in the corps de ballet, and one who is the queen. That's 33 in all," said the company's director, Yuri Fateev.

Catherine, if you happen to read this, he also has these very supportive words for the Vaganova schooling that they receive,

"It is very important for the same people to do it together and develop a feeling for each other, so they can do exactly the same timing and the same steps. That is why the Vaganova Academy is so important to us. They are learning those steps from a very early age, and they come and watch ('Swan Lake') being performed many times during their educational years."

She will begin the performances, Tuesday, and will also dance Saturday evening. She will perform the most leads, three of the seven.

I have probably mentioned this before, but her Odette, White Swan, Act II duet, at the Mariinsky Festival final night Gala, was possibly my favorite performance of the entire Festival. Why? Because she was Totally Graceful-Lovely as expected. But not expected, she delivered two instances of *Poetic Nuancing*, mostly the result of Facial Expression, that almost knocked me out of my chair with Euphoria ! What a Revelation this was as to the Depth of Expression that this remarkable young woman is capable of.

I don't recall having seen her perform a full length lead, but I've Always liked what I've seen her do. Someone at another forum said that she -- "Glows".

Ekaterina Kondaurova

She is certainly capable of igniting sparks, simply by walking onto the stage. Her sense of Gracefulness is Magnificent. I've mentioned before that at last year's Festival, as brilliant as all the performers were that she appeared with, she was about all that I could concentrate on.

Anastasia Kolegova

Based on seeing her once, she should be just lovely.

It's a treasure to be able to see any of these wonderful women doing anything, let alone all of them in in a series of Swan Lake.

"I been all around this great big worldAnd I seen all kinds of girls...."

I wish they all could be californiaI wish they all could be california

I wish they all could be....

Mariinsky Girls !

Here's the Lineup

Tuesday, October 2nd at 7:30 p.m.Oxana Skorik as Odette-OdileVladimir Schklyarov as Prince Siegfried

Wednesday, October 3rd at 7:30 p.m.Yekaterina Kondaurova as Odette-OdileEvgeny Ivanchenko as Prince Siegfried

Thursday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m.Oxana Skorik as Odette-OdileTimur Askerov as Prince Siegfried

Friday, October 5th at 7:30 p.m.Yekaterina Kondaurova as Odette-OdileEvgeny Ivanchenko as Prince Siegfried

Saturday, October 6th at 2 p.m.Anastasia Kolegova as Odette-OdileDanila Korsuntsev as Prince Siegfried

Saturday, October 6th at 7:30 p.m.Oxana Skorik as Odette-OdileVladimir Schklyarov as Prince Siegfried

Sunday, October 7th at 2 p.mAnastasia Kolegova as Odette-OdileTimur Askerov as Prince Siegfried

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